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Archive – Bear’s Breeches

  • 128169958-jun_acanthus mollis_3750
    Acanthus mollis
  • 130805327-acanthus mollis_4033

Bear’s Breeches

COMMON NAME Bear’s Breeches
BOTANICAL NAME * Acanthus mollis
ZONE 7-10
SIZE HT 2.5-3’ ,  SP 3’-4’
FOLIAGE Glossy dark green leaves that are quite large, about 18” long and 12” wide.  The foliage on this perennial should be cut back to about 3” HT when it goes dormant in the fall.  New foliage will emerge from the ground in the spring.
FLOWER 2-3’ spike of dusty purple and white flowers emerging above the foliage in mid-summer.  Quite showy.  The flowers persist for a long time, usually at least 4 weeks.
GROWING CONDITIONS Well drained soil.  Full Sun to Light Shade.  Maryland is on the northern cusp for this plant, therefore it should have some protection from winter winds.  You may need to layer pine branches over the root masses during the winter months for added insulation.
FAVORITE CULTIVARS Other varieties worth trying, especially since they will more easily tolerate our winters:
Acanthus hungaricus Zone 5-7. Light Shade. The foliage is medium green, and only 18-24” HT.

Acanthus spinosus Zone 5-7. Light Shade. This plant has dark green, deeply divided foliage with sharp points, and is 2.5-3’ HT.
NOTES Deer resistant.  Acanthus mollis is significant enough that a single plant can make a huge impact.  Acanthus hungaricus and Acanthus spinosus are best when in a group of at least 3.

* A particular plant will have only 1 botanical name. Unfortunately, a particular plant may have several common names or it may share a common name with another plant. Whenever possible, use the botanical name.

Featured Plant Archive

Amsonia hubrichtii / Threadleaf Blue Star 09/2018

Abelia grandiflora / Glossy Abelia 9/2015

Acanthus mollis / Bear's Breeches 04/2016

Acer palmatum ‘Shirasawanum’/ Shirasawa’s Japanese Maple 04/2015

Amelanchier arborea / Serviceberry 05/2016

Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’ / Japanese Spikenard, Mountain Asparagus, Udo 02/2019  

Aronia melanocarpa ‘Low Scape Mound’ or ‘Low Scape Hedger’ / Dwarf Black Chokeberry 11/2019  

Baptisia australis / False Indigo 06/2020

Betula nigra / River Birch 11/2015

Bletilla striata / Chinese Ground Orchid - Perennial 07/2017

Callicarpa dichotoma / Beautyberry 10/2015

Campsis radicans /Trumpet Vine 08/2020

Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’ / 'Everillo' Golden Sedge 07/2017

Caryopteris x clandonensis / Blue Mist Shrub 8/2015

Cedrus deodora / Deodor Cedar 01/2016

Cephalanthus occidentalis / Buttonbush 9/2019  

Cephalotaxus harringtonia / Japanese Plum Yew 11/2018  

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’ / Weeping Alaska Cedar 01/2017

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Crispii’ / Golden HinokiFalsecypress 11/2017

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’ / Dwarf Hinoki Falsecypress 04/2017

Cornus alba ‘Ivory Halo’ / Variegated Tartarian Dogwood 02/2017

Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’ / ‘Wolf Eyes’ Kousa Dogwood 10/2014

Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ / Bloodtwig Dogwood 'Midwinter Fire' 02/2020

Cryptomeria japonica / Japanese Cedar 12/2014

Edgeworthia chrysantha / Paperbush 11/2016

Eupatorium coelestinum / Blue Mistflower 10/2020  

Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’ / Bishop's Hat - Perennial 12/2017  

Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea Tricolor’ / Tricolor European Beech 01/2020

Fallopia japonica ‘Milk Boy’ / Variegated Japanese Knotweed 7/2019  

Geranium macrorrhizum / Bigroot Geranium 02/2018  

Ginkgo biloba /Ginkgo 10/2016

Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ / Japanese Forest Grass - yellow variegated 03/2017

Hamamelis x intermedia / Witchhazel 02/2015

Helleborus x Frostkiss ‘Molly's White’ / Lenten Rose ‘Molly’s White’ 03/2019  

Hesperis matronalis / Dame's Rocket 5/2019  

Heuchera villosa / Native Coral Bells 04/2018  

Hibiscus syriacus / Rose of Sharon 09/2016

Hydrangea anomola var. petiolaris / Climbing Hydrangea 05-06/2018  

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ / Limelight Hydrangea 08/2016

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ / Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea 08/2018  

Hypericum patulum ‘Hidcote’ / Hidcote 'St. Johnswort' 08/2017

Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ / Virginia Sweeetspire 'Henry's Garnet' 10/2017

Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’ / Dwarf Japgarden Juniper 12/2019  

Kerria japonica / Japanese Kerria 4/2019  

Koelreuteria paniculata / Goldenraintree 01/2018  

Lagerstroemia indica / Crapemyrtle 6/2015

Leymus arenarius / Lyme Grass, Dune Grass 7/2015

Ligularia dentata ‘Desdemona’ or ‘Othello’ / Leopard Plant 07/2020

Lonicera nitida / Boxleaf Honeysuckle 12/2016

Lonicera sempervirens / Trumpet Honeysuckle - Vine 09/2016

Malus floribunda / Japanese Flowering Crabapple 5/2015

Paeonia obovata / Woodland Peony 06/2017

Picea pungens ‘Glauca Globosa’ / Dwarf Globe Colorado Blue Spruce 12/2018  

Pinus flexilis / Limber Pine 02/2016

Pinus parviflora / Japanese White Pine 12/2015

Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis / Sweetbox 1/2019  

Sorbaria sorbifolia / Ural Falsespirea 03/2016

Spiraea japonica ‘Golden Elf’ /Dwarf ‘Golden Elf’ Spirea 10/2019  

Spiraea x bumalda ‘Anthony Waterer’ / Anthony Waterer Spirea 06/2016

Stewartia pseudocamilia / Japanese Stewartia 07/2016  

Styrax japonicus / Japanese Snowbell 02/2021

Syringa pubescens subsp. patula ‘Miss Kim’ / Manchurian Lilac 03/2018  

Viburnum nudum / Smooth Witherod, Possumhaw Viburnum 10/2018  

Spring Flowering Bulbs and Ephemerals 04/2020  

Ann Betten
Betten Landscape Design, LLC · PO Box 102 · Stevenson, MD 21153
Tel: 410-823-6787
Email: ann@bettenlandscapedesign.com
Licensed and Insured - MHIC #71060
Member
Maryland Horticultural Society Association of Professional Landscape Designer

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